Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said he will continue to press Clippers owner Donald Sterling to give up his ownership of the NBA team, but said it may take a "protracted fight" before the 80-year-old billionaire agrees to sell.

Garcetti said he spoke to Sterling several days ago and said the owner did not seem to realize the effect of taped remarks that NBA officials say were made by Sterling about African Americans that became public.

"He believes in his heart that he's a very good person" and is proud of what he has accomplished, Garcetti said.

The mayor said he and others need to press Sterling to understand that his comments do not reflect Los Angeles and its commitment to diversity and tolerance.

He described Los Angeles as the one of the world's most open and diverse cities. "Los Angeles is not represented by those comments" spoken by Sterling.

Asked if he thought players would want to remain on the team if Sterling was able to hold onto the franchise, Garcetti said “I think it would be very tough for them to stay there.”

“I think the players are really the ones that have the burden on them,” he said. “They’re not going to want to play for somebody -- knowing that the money they’re generating for that individual goes into these sorts of attitudes.”

The mayor also was asked if he would urge fans to boycott the Clippers’ games if Sterling remained the owner.

“I would certainly keep that arrow in my quiver,” he said. “I want to see representation of our city in its best light.”

He said the incident has brought together the city in support of its second NBA franchise.

Clippers co-owner Shelly Sterling released a statement before Game 7 of her team's first-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday saying she supported the NBA's move to work with the franchise to appoint a new CEO.